When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

After 'must win' clashes with Barnsley and Charlton Boro entertain struggling Stoke tonight in a text-book relegation six pointer.

The visitors could claw above Boro on goal difference if they win but a home victory would carve out precious breathing space above the drop spots ahead of another six pointer with Huddersfield on Boxing Day.

So the pressure is on. Boro will be desperate to regain the ground lost at Swansea last week.

Before that self-inflicted defeat in South Wales, Boro had slowly, steadily been inching away from danger with a run of just one defeat in six. After that set-back they are still vulnerable to being dragged back into the mire.

Boro beat Barnsley and Charlton 1-0 in the last two home games and are looking for three on the spin at the Riverside for the first time since April.

Stoke have lost four of their last four away games and have failed to score in three of them so look vulnerable.

Jonathan Woodgate at Swansea City

But Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate knows it won't be easy. And he has a massive injury crisis compounded by suspensions for Paddy McNair and Marcus Browne after their red mist moments at Swansea.

That leaves Woodgate with some major selection and tactical posers to deal with.

Here are three of the biggest headaches he must deal with before kick-off.

Four or five at the back?

Boro’s low key recovery and inching away from the drop spots was built on the platform of a back five.

The switch to three central defenders and wing-backs underpinned a run of just two defeats in nine as pragmatic Boro plugged the gaps and became much harder to break down.

That appeared to be the new default but a switch to a conventional back four in the second half at Nottingham Forest helped claw to a draw and the boss started with that defensive shape in a 4141 at Swansea and looked solid until the red card chaos.

Injuries have undermined his ability to play a five. In some games to make it work he has drafted in makeshift centre-backs but now wing-back Anfernee Dijksteel is crocked so Jonny Howson is needed on that side while Paddy McNair is banned.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in8Cancel

Play now

He could throw young Nathan Wood and Djed Spence in but it is such a high-stakes game and he is likely to opt for experience in too many key positions.

That suggests a back four with Howson in the right back role.

Who replaces Paddy McNair?

Dynamic McNair has arguably been Boro’s most influential player this season with his presence, energy and movement making the midfield tick.

He works hard out of possession on the nuts and bolts of the engine-room role with plenty of chasing and closing and pressing but his driving runs forward into the middle third have been one of the key features of Boro’s counter-attacking play.

His three game absence for that rash stamp at Swansea is a major headache for Woodgate.

Does he ask someone to step up and play McNair’s progressive role or change the shape to accommodate his loss?

Paddy McNair of Middlesbrough is sent off by referee Dean Whitestone

The best equipped to make the surging runs forward from midfield is probably Howson but he is needed at the back.

Lewis Wing is another candidate. He has looked flat and out of sorts at times this term in a deeper role but showed last season he has an instinct to pass and move forward quickly and could be an able deputy.

Adam Clayton has taken on the anchor role in recent outings and Marcus Tavernier and George Saville can take up the wider roles in a midfield diamond with Wing at the tip behind the strikers.

Another possibility is five in midfield with Wing, Clayton and Saville in central roles and Tavernier and either Marvin Johnson or Ashley Fletcher in the wide roles.

Will Britt Assombalonga start?

The ability to deploy that t five man midfield could depend on whether record signing and top scorer Assombalonga is fully fit and firing.

The lone striker role demands a lot of stamina, movement and physicality and if he is not bang on his game he could struggle.

He had shown signs of adapting to the role in recent outings with some determined pressing and hustling the backline and there were real signs of a partnership with Fletcher flourishing.

Read More

Related Articles

Read More

Related Articles

The striker limped off against Charlton after taking a knock and missed the trip to Forest. He was rated ‘touch and go’ for Swansea with cautious Woodgate eventually opting to wait until he was fully fit.

But Assombalonga has been back in full training this week and will be anxious return and the boss will be eager to throw him back into battle.

If he plays it will give Woodgate more tactical flexibility with Fletcher able to play higher up and off him or take up a wider role in a midfield five.

If the striker is judged not to be ready then Fletcher would continue up front where he has looked lively of late and Johnson could take up the wide left slot.